Switching Device With Arc Extinguishing Device

Abstract

A single or multiple pole switching device which includes a switch chamber with an arc extinguishing device for each pole, wherein the switch chamber has two lateral walls between which a cage is arranged that is provided for mounting a movable contact bridge, where contacts are arranged on the contact bridge, where the arc extinguishing device has a plurality of quenching plates, the ends of which are accommodated in a pocket arrangement, where the lateral walls have a support for laterally supporting the cage in a direction transverse with respect to the switching direction of the contacts and parallel to the lateral walls, where the pocket arrangement is a separate component from the cage, which pocket arrangement is spaced apart from the cage such that it does not provide such lateral support for the cage, such that a cost-effective and reliable single or multiple pole switching device is provided.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A single or multiple-pole switching device comprising: at least one switching chamber having an arc extinguishing device for each pole of the switch device, each arc extinguishing device including a plurality of quenching plates having ends which are received in a pocket arrangement; a movable contact bridge, contacts being arranged on the movable contact bridge; a cage for storing the movable contact bridge, each switching chamber including two side walls between which the cage is arranged; wherein the side walls comprise a holder for a laterally holding the cage in a direction extending transversely to a switching movement direction of the contacts and parallel to the side walls; and wherein the pocket arrangement is configured as a component separate from the cage and is spaced from the cage such that it does not provide any such lateral hold for the cage and wherein the pocket arrangement is formed on the side wall or welded to the side wall.

15. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the holder is configured as protrusions arranged on the side wall; and wherein a groove is arranged between the protrusions a corresponding counter-element of the cage protruding into the grove.

16. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the side walls and the pocket arrangement have walls of even thicknesses.

17. The switching device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the side walls and the pocket arrangement have walls of even thicknesses.

18. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the holder is arranged on the side wall at least one of (i) with a central offset with respect to the cage and (ii) asymmetrical with respect to the cage.

19. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pocket arrangement electrically isolates ends of quenching plates with respect to the contact bridge.

20. The switching device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pocket arrangement comprises ribs arranged in parallel for receiving the ends of the quenching plates, said ribs ensuring mutual electrical insulation and spacing of adjacent quenching plates.

21. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pocket arrangement comprises an extension at one end which extends in a direction of the cage, said extension reducing spacing between the cage and the pocket arrangement such that guidance of an arc in the switching chamber is ensured.

22. The switching device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cage and the extension of the pocket arrangement have a cooperating configuration such that a separation between the cage and the pocket arrangement is minimized to ensure guidance of the arc.

23. The switching device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cage includes a cut-out into which the extension protrudes.

24. The switching device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the cage includes a cut-out into which the extension protrudes.

25. The switching device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the spacing between the cage and the pocket arrangement is at least set such that even in an event of an arc, no unwanted welding occurs between the two components.

26. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of (i) the side walls and (ii) the pocket arrangement is made of a material which is optimized with regard to its starting properties under effects of an arc.

27. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cage is made of a material having optimized sliding friction properties, in particular a polyamide, preferably Creamid® or Ultramid®.

28. The switching device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the switching device is configured as a power circuit breaker.

29. The switching device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the material comprises a polyamide.

30. The switching device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the polyamide is Creamid® or Ultramid®.

31. The switching device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the protrusions are formed on the side wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will now be described and explained in greater detail making reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a switching device with an arc extinguishing device in accordance with invention; and

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a three-poled switching device without the cage and contact bridge in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through an inventive switching device 1 with an arc extinguishing device that essentially consists of a pocket arrangement 4 and a quenching stack 28 constructed from a plurality of quenching plates 26 and their quenching plate ends 27. The section is taken through a switching chamber 5 and a contact bridge 10 of the switching device. Also shown are a side wall 3, configured here as an external wall, the pocket arrangement 4 and its extension 4a. A cage 16 is held laterally by a holder 7, where the cage 16 covers the holder 7, so that the holder is not shown here (see FIG. 2, however). The section through the contact bridge 10 shows the arrangement of one contact 12 per side and the arrangement of the contact bridge 10 in the cage 16. Herein, the contact bridge 10 is held by a spring 13 and can be moved by a contact slider 14.

[0024] The spacing between the cage 16 and the pocket arrangement 4 and its extension 4a is herein selected so that the arc is optimally guided away from the contacts into the arc extinguishing device. This effect can be intensified by a slope on the extension 4a. The quenching plates 26 that are electrically insulated relative to one another form the quenching stack 28 in which the arc is then extinguished. The cage 16 is configured as a separate part and can thus be optimized with regard to the sliding friction and abrasion resistance of importance for a long operating life. Easy exchange of the cage 16 is also possible. This configuration is optimized both for a long operating life and also for an economical, simple and automatable assembly.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a three-pole configured switching device 1 in which, for reasons of clarity, the cage 16 and the contact bridge 10 are not shown. The reference characters already used with reference to FIG. 1 are used here again. The holder 7, the protrusions 8 and a groove 9 used in this embodiment are visible. The side walls 3 are partially configured as separating walls between two switching chambers 5 or as external walls of a switching chamber 5. The switching chamber 5 is substantially laterally delimited by the pocket arrangement 4 and its extension 4a and by the quenching stack 28. Two quenching stacks 28 per pole are provided between the side walls 3 and fixed via the quenching plate ends 27 in the pocket devices 4.

[0026] A housing 2 is herein configured in one part, but can also be constructed such that it must be assembled from a plurality of parts. Guide rails 2a are provided for the side walls 4 that are not configured as external walls, i.e., are arranged in the interior of the housing. The holders 7 for the cage 16 are not arranged centrally, in order to define an unambiguous installation position of the cage 16. This provides the advantage that, upon assembly of the switching device, the cage 16 is always correctly arranged and a faulty construction of the switching device 1 is prevented. The construction can naturally be used not only for three-pole, but also similarly for single-pole or multiple-pole switching devices.

[0027] The invention relates to a single or multiple-pole switching device which has a switching chamber with an arc extinguishing device for each pole. The switching chamber has two side walls between which a cage is arranged that carries a movable contact bridge. Contacts are arranged on the contact bridge. The arc extinguishing device has a plurality of quenching plates, the ends of which are received in a pocket arrangement.

[0028] In order to provide an economical and reliable single or multiple-pole switching device, it the side walls comprise a holder for a lateral hold of the cage in a direction extending transversely to a switching movement direction of the contacts and parallel to the side walls, where the pocket arrangement is a component separate from the cage and is spaced from the cage such that it does not provide any such lateral hold for the cage.

[0029] Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those element steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.